Suzhou Art Garden｜Hidden in the city.

Among the Suzhou Garden World Heritage List, the Art Garden is the most secluded garden. It is hidden deep in a residential area and needs to be walked through alleys to reach it. It is like a treasure hunt. Its predecessor was Zuiying Hall built by Yuan Zugeng in the Ming Dynasty. Yuan Zugeng (1519~1590), also known as Shengzhi, was born in Changzhou (now Suzhou). In the 27th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1541), he became a Jinshi and served as deputy envoy to Zhejiang Province (an official who assesses officials and administers justice). He resigned from his post after the age of 40 and retired. He chose a place in Suzhou to build a house and garden, and hung a plaque with the inscription "Urban Forest". Live the life of a hermit. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, it was owned by Jiang Cai (named Jingting), a Jinshi of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, and was renamed "Jingting Shanfang". Later, his son Jiang Shijie changed its name to "Yipu". To the east of the art garden are residences and to the west are gardens, with obvious Ming and Qing gardening styles. For example, the Yanguang Pavilion by the pool is the largest waterside pavilion in Suzhou gardens. It has been transformed into a teahouse, where you can enjoy the pool and rockery. Sighing at the tea. The Milky Fish Pavilion by the pond has a unique shape. The bracketed ceilings are decorated with flowers in the shape of grass dragons. Among the gardens I have seen, this is the only pavilion with colorful paintings and flowers. The small bridge next to the pavilion is also a product of the Ming Dynasty. The flat arc-shaped bridge is simple and simple. There is a small courtyard next to the rockery, which was originally a study room for the prince to study. There is a pond in the garden. Through the round door, it feels connected to the large pond outside. This kind of design is the only one in Suzhou gardens. Compared with other gardens, the architecture and garden shapes of the art garden are not so fancy, but more of a pursuit of natural style. One of the owners of the art garden was Wen Zhenmeng, the great-grandson of Wen Zhengming, so the garden also has the character of a literati. 📍 Location: Suzhou Art Garden 💰 Ticket: 10 yuan, half ticket available, garden card available